WELCOME! Nearly every church says it. Most, if not all, mean it to some extent. It is, after all, a part of who Christians are called to be – people who welcome the strangers in their midst. You might even say that being welcoming is in our DNA. And of course, we here at Trinity welcome you – for welcoming really is in our DNA.

I have attended a lot of churches, Lutheran and otherwise. I have been a part of some, a visitor at others, a guest at still others. I have read countless newsletters from churches far and wide, and denominations all over the map. And I can say without reservation, the folks here at Trinity are as welcoming as it gets. It is not that mushy, in your face, smothering glad-handing type of welcome; after all, we are Lutherans, but it is a genuine belief that you belong here, that you matter, and that this place is here for you.

You only need to look at the building’s use to know that welcome is not just a word here. The Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center, two A.A. groups, the Rose Society, the International Club, the knitting group, the doll Club, the children’s ministry, KCARSE, CEO, WELCA, and the list goes on and on. And every week, we share dinner with hundreds of guests at Trinity’s Table.

Trinity’s Table is a community outreach ministry of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation located in the East End of Charleston, West Virginia. Volunteers from the congregation and from the community provide a nutritious and balanced meal every Sunday evening to anyone who comes to our door — with no questions asked.

Meals include meat, vegetables, fruit and desserts and drinks each week. Spaghetti, meatloaf, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, chicken alfredo, tacos and burritos, and beef tips over noodles are just a few of the meals served in recent months.

The volunteers at Trinity’s Table have created a community that is welcoming, safe, and comfortable for our guests. We strive to to feed our guests in both body and spirit. Every meal begins with a prayer led either by Pastor Randy Richardson or by one of the volunteers. Volunteers spend time getting to know our guests and building relationships with them. Several trained social workers often join the volunteers, as well as many caring “amateurs” who help establish the loving, Christian environment that exists at Trinity’s Table.